Improvement in straw-cutters



2 Sheets--Sheetl T. H ANCOCK.

Patented May 11, 1875.

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THE GRAPHIC CLPHOTO -LITH.39&4`I PARK PLACEJLY THOMAS HANCOCK, OF MARIETTA, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND ANSELM T. NYE, JR., OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN STR AW-CUTTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 163,06, dated May 11, 1875; application filed September 14, 1874.

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS HANCOCK, of Marietta, in the county of Washington and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Cutting Straw, Src. ,.and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to the feed-gear of machines for cutting straw, Src.; and consists, mainly, in the employment of a verticallyadjnstable shaft, having two or more bevelgear wheels, in connection with the main wheel, having corresponding bevel-gear, for the purpose of regulating the speed at which the material to be cutis fed, and, consequently, the length of the cut. It consists, also, in the employment of a spring-frame for supporting the upper feed-roller, in connection with certain mechanism adapted to give the roller movement in any position in which it may be placed, all of which will be fully described hereinafter.

In the drawings, Figure l represents a perspective view of my invention as applied to a machine. Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 6 represent views in elevation of parts detached; and Fig. 5, a vertical sectional elevation.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe fully the construction and operation of the same.

A represents the box of the straw-cutter, constructed generally in any proper manner. B represents the main wheel, to which power is communicated in any proper manner from any proper source. This wheel is adapted to revolve upon the shaft b, Fig. 5, extending from the bracket b', rigidly attached to the plate a, secured to the side of the case, as shown. This wheel has eogs upon its circumference, and also two or more bevel-gears upon its inner face, as shown. C represents a pinion upon one end of the shaft c, the latter carrying the cutting-cylinder c', which receives motion from the teeth upon the circumference of wheel B, as shown. D represents a shaft, vertically held, as hereinafter described, and provided with two or more bevel-gears, d d1, arranged one above the other, as shown. E represents a cylindrical socket, rigidly attached to the side plate of the cutterbox by means of a suitable bracket or plate 5 and E', a similar socket in an inverted position, which is attached to 011e of the bars of the spring-frame supporting the upper feedroller, as shown in Fig. l. F represents a worm-gear, having an angular opening through it vertically, adapted to receive the shaft D, and also a cylindrical dependent projection, with rounded edges, adapted to rest Within the cylinder E, and form witlrit aball-and-socket `joint, as shown in Fig. 6. F represents a similar gear, adapted to rest in an inverted position in the socket E', the same being supported in position by means of the flange f, Fig. 5, projecting from the bar to which the socket is attached. G represents a pinion upon the shaft of the lower feed-roller, and G a similar pinion upon the shaft of the npper feed-roller, these being adapted to receive motion from the worms F F', as shown in Fig. 3. The shaft D is free to move vertically within certain limits, for the purpose of bringing either of its bevel-gears into operation, one being adapted to act in connection with Athe inner or central bevel-gear of the main wheel, and the other with the outer bevelgear. To sustain the shaft D in either position, raised or lowered, the bracket d3 is pro` vided, which is pivoted to the frame by means of the set-screw d, in such manner that it is adapted to turn and bring either the ange on its long or short side beneath the shaft D, as shown, the stops It k being adapted to limit the bracket properly in its movement. H H represent the side bars of the frame, pivoted at their rear ends to the upper edge of the box, and carrying at their front ends the upper feed-roller, as shown. i I represents the block against which the knives act in the operation of cutting.

The operation is as follows: Motion having been communicated to the main wheel, the same is conveyedby means of the pinion G directly to the cutting-cylinder, and by means of one pair of bevel-gears upon the main wheel and shaft D, and the worm-gears, to the shafts of the feeding-rollers. The upper feeding-roller, it will be observed, is held by a spring-frame, so that it is adapted to yield readily when the circumstances of the case require it. In order that it may receive rotary motion in any position in which it may be placed, its Worm-gear is free to move vertically upon the shaft D, and the shaft itself is adapted, by means of the ball-and-socket joints of the Worm-gears, to incline from the vertical position, so as to permit the frame to move in the arc of a circle. To change the speed, the main wheel is removed from its shaft, and the shaft D is adjusted up or down, as the case may be, to bring its other bevelgear in contact with the corresponding bevelgear upon the main Wheel, the supporting'- bracket being,` properly adjusted to support the shaft in the desired position. If desired, more than two bevel-gears may be employed upon the shaft D and the main Wheel, and they may be arranged in such relation to each other so as to give any desired speed. The mechanism described is quite simple, and Well adapted for the purpose designed. rIhe adjustment to change the feed can be readily madeY Without tools, and the upper roller is capable of vibrating While receiving constantly a positive motion.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination of the vertical shaft D, the ball-joint F, and its supporting-socket E, with the ball-joint and Worm-gear F', and its supporting-socket E', and vibrating frame H. whereby the shaft is adapted to adjust itself to the vibration of the frame, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the vertical shaft D, loosely held in the ball-and-socket joints E E F F', and the pivoted supporting-bracket d3, provided With unequal sides, as described.

This specification signed and witnessed this 20th day of August, 1874.

irnos. HANCOCK. 

